SDSU, San Diego Unified renew agreement guaranteeing admission for Hoover High School graduates

Since it was founded nearly 100 years ago, Hoover High School in City Heights has seen hundreds of exemplary graduates continue their education three miles away at San Diego State University. That pipeline stands to grow now that SDSU and the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) have renewed an agreement that guarantees admission for qualified Hoover High students.

The College Avenue Compact (CAC) agreement was launched in 2011 to strengthen educational outreach to the Hoover High community and address equity gaps. The renewal of the CAC, announced Thursday by SDSU and SDUSD partners at the Parma Payne Goodall SDSU Alumni Center, keeps the guaranteed admissions framework in place through the 2027-28 academic year.

“We take much pride in providing college access to students from our local community, and this renewal is intended to support both access and closing equity gaps,” said Stefan Hyman, associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “We look forward to enrolling and graduating more students from Hoover High School in the years to come.”

Under the CAC, Hoover Cardinals will face certain grade and testing requirements laid out in the agreement framework, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA at the time of application through graduation (increases to 3.2 for 2028), meeting all A-G core curriculum requirements and avoiding any D or F letter grades in any subject during their senior year. For pre-STEM students, the agreement lists the types of high school math courses they should take to best prepare for instruction at SDSU.

Additional information on the agreement and pathways to admission are spelled out in a memorandum of understanding posted online.

Of the nearly 60 Hoover graduates enrolled at SDSU this upcoming 2024-25 school year, 30 will have earned admission through the CAC. They are among the hundreds of Hoover graduates who have secured admission through the agreement since its inception.

“San Diego Unified is thrilled to celebrate the renewal of the College Avenue Compact for another generation of Hoover High School students,” said Erin Richison, senior executive director of the Office of Graduation for SDUSD. “The new GPA requirement ensures our students remain competitive in the application process. We are thankful for this ongoing partnership that encourages students to challenge themselves and achieve their educational goals.”

As part of the agreement, SDSU is committed to supporting these incoming Aztecs in various ways. Each program participant will be assigned a dedicated advisor and will receive academic support and programming. 

SDSU also agreed to provide the following support: 

• Offer workshops for Hoover High School students on careers in STEM education.
  Identify mentorship opportunities between Hoover students and SDSU’s College of Education.
• Work with Hoover Community Connections partners, including the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment, to communicate the guaranteed admission and its program requirements to all students, parents, teachers, staff and community members.
• Plan and implement core activities, including but not limited to, campus visits for students as well as high school visits and assemblies.
• Work with Hoover High School staff to plan and implement annual campus visits for on-track students (in 9th grade) to gain an understanding of college entrance requirements and college preparation.
• Provide SDSU-approved seminar programs (i.e., GENS 100) for all first-year CAC students not in a residential or major-specific learning community.

To further ensure collegiate success for CAC students, SDSU collaborates with Avenues for Success, a comprehensive program that helps first-generation, low-income Hoover students with college enrollment, advising and completion support. Avenues for Success is funded by the Price Philanthropies Foundation.

“For over 20 years, Price Philanthropies Foundation has worked together with San Diego State University and San Diego Unified School District to provide pathways to opportunity for Hoover High School students,” said Jennette Lawrence Shay, Price Philanthropies Foundation Chief Operating Officer. “Our foundation is grateful for the continued partnership with SDSU and San Diego Unified and the benefits the College Avenue Compact will provide to the next generation of Hoover High School graduates.”

A similar agreement between SDSU and the Sweetwater Union High School District, Compact for Success, was launched in 2000 and was recently renewed through 2030.

SDSU Imperial Valley announced the Pathway for Success agreement with the Central Union High School District, offering qualified students guaranteed admission starting in 2025 through 2030.